Academic Advising

The College of Sciences Academic Advising is split between three advising centers:

Life and Health Sciences Advising

Majors: Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Microbiology & Immunology, and Neuroscience

Life and Health Sciences Advising website

Math and Physical Sciences Advising

Majors: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, Mathematics of Data and Computing, and Physics

Math and Physical Sciences Advising website

Interdisciplinary Education Advising

Majors: Biology (7-12th Grade Biology Teacher Concentration), Mathematics for Teaching, Multidisciplinary Science (Teaching), and Physics (6-12th Grade Teaching Concentration)

Interdisciplinary Education Advising website
Students interested in seeking middle and high school science and math teacher certification should contact UTeachSA.

Additional Resource

UTSA Academic Advising website

Undergraduate Advisor of Record (UGAR)

A UGAR is usually a faculty member from the department of your selected major. This individual is different than your academic advisor and can provide the following:

  • Additional details about the course material that will be covered in your selected degree program
    (see the Undergraduate Catalog for general course descriptions)
  • Advice and referrals to other faculty members if you are interested in participating in a research lab or independent study
  • Act as the liaison and help find a faculty sponsor if there is an internship for academic credit that you want to pursue

College of Sciences UGARs

  • Biochemistry (B.S.) — Dr. Susan Thomas
  • Biology (B.S.) — Dr. Eddie Hernandez
  • Chemistry (B.A., B.S.) — Victoria Dougherty
  • Computer Science (B.A., B.S.) — Dr. Palden Lama
  • Environmental Science (B.S.) — Jason Gagliardi
  • Environmental Studies (B.A.) — Jason Gagliardi
  • Geosciences (B.A., B.S.) — Dr. John Cannon
  • Mathematics (B.S.) — Dr. Mostafa Fazly; Zachery Sharon
  • Mathematics for Teaching (B.S.) — Dr. Mostafa Fazly; Zachery Sharon
  • Mathematics of Data and Computing (B.S.) — Dr. Mostafa Fazly; Zachery Sharon
  • Microbiology and Immunology (B.S.) — Dr. Sara Shields-Menard
  • Multidisciplinary Science (B.S.) — Jason Gagliardi
  • Neuroscience (B.S) — Dr. William Ramos
  • Physics (B.A., B.S.) — Dr. Lisa Shepard
  • Software Engineering (B.S.) — Dr. Palden Lama

Graduate On Time

DegreeWorks is available for students to monitor their academic progress toward degree completion. DegreeWorks allows students and their advisors to plan future coursework and run degree audits, easily identifying courses that have been completed and courses that are still needed to fulfill degree requirements. Students can access DegreeWorks through MyUTSA or by meeting with their academic advisor.

With DegreeWorks You Can:

  • Create a semester by semester course plan
  • Monitor your progress toward graduation
  • Create a "What-If" plan that details what happens if you change your major or degree plan
  • Look ahead to how your progress will be affected by the courses you plan to take in future semesters
  • Run GPA calculations based on current grades and future grades

Tuition Rebate Program

The Tuition Rebate program provides a financial incentive for students to complete their first baccalaureate degree with as few courses outside the plan as possible. See the eligibility requirements.

For more information about the cost and value of your degree and the importance of finishing on time, visit UTSA Financial Aid.

AIS, Gateway Courses, and Q-Courses

Academic Introduction & Strategies (AIS)

Mandatory AIS 1203 course that fulfills the Core Curriculum First Year Experience requirement. The course is a general survey of scholarship practiced within three broad cultures of inquiry: the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. AIS 1203 explores the diverse ideas, values, and practices used by various disciplines to investigate and organize their subject matter and create knowledge.

Additional AIS Information

Gateway Courses

Courses that are necessary for progression through a chosen major; these usually contain material that requires a clear-cut comprehension in order to be successful in completing other course requirements for the major. Gateway Courses often determine whether a student is a suitable candidate to pursue the indicated major.

Additional Gateway Courses Information

Q-Courses

Courses that have been redesigned by integrating quantitative literacy (QL), enabling students to develop their data-reasoning skills. Each academic year additional courses are selected to participate in the QL program.

Additional UTSA academic terms can be found on the UTSA Lingo 101 page.

College of Sciences Undergraduate Thesis

The COS Undergraduate Thesis is a two-semester program that allows for advanced students to conduct research under the supervision of a faculty member and to complete a thesis.

COS Undergraduate Thesis Program

Academic Standing

See information about minimum grade requirements, academic warning, academic probation, academic dismissal, and reinstatement policy and procedures.